Second round of Somalia-Ethiopia talks in Turkey ends with no deal

14/8/2024 6:53

        A second round of Turkish-mediated talks between Somalia and Ethiopia over a port deal Addis Ababa signed with the breakaway Somaliland region ended without a deal on Tuesday, but Turkey and ministers from both countries sounded upbeat on progress.
        
        The negotiations held in Ankara have attempted to repair relations between the East African neighbours, whose relationship nosedived in January when Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland in exchange for recognition of its independence.
        
        Mogadishu called the agreement illegal and retaliated by expelling the Ethiopian ambassador and threatening to kick out thousands of Ethiopian troops stationed in the country helping battle Islamist insurgents.
        
        The Ethiopian and Somali foreign ministers did not hold direct talks in Ankara, with Turkey's foreign minister shuttlingbetween them instead.
        
        Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference that the number of issues discussed in the second round of talks had increased significantly from the first round, and there was now "convergence on some major principles".